``I don't think he would be the right character,'' says Enrique Baron Crespo of Spain, a former EU Parliament president. A Stop Blair! campaign organized by a Paris investment banker has gathered 24,000 signatures. The debate goes beyond personalities. It's about whether Britain is serious about leading in the 27-nation EU or abdicates that role to pro-EU continental nations. It's also about whether the EU can overcome its divisions and become an international force to be reckoned with. President Blair ``would be a bad idea,'' says Jerome Guillet, the Stop Blair! founder. ``He promised that he would bring Britain into Europe and he didn't even try. And the invasion and occupation of Iraq is a pretty bad symbol for Europe, which is built on peace.''
The debate goes beyond personalities. It's about whether Britain is serious about leading in the 27-nation EU or abdicates that role to pro-EU continental nations. It's also about whether the EU can overcome its divisions and become an international force to be reckoned with.
President Blair ``would be a bad idea,'' says Jerome Guillet, the Stop Blair! founder. ``He promised that he would bring Britain into Europe and he didn't even try. And the invasion and occupation of Iraq is a pretty bad symbol for Europe, which is built on peace.''
Against: Enrique Barón MEP, PES (Spain), former EP President Jérôme Guillet and 24,000 signatories of Stop Blair!
Angela Merkel's understated endorsement of Juncker is also mentioned. Other candidates include Juncker (LU), Rasmussen (DK: Anders Fogh, not Poul Nyrup), Ahern (IE) and Schuessel (AT). Prodi (IT) is also mentioned.
Pointing out obstacles: Andrew Duff MEP, ALDE (UK) Jean Luc Dahaene MEP, EPP (Belgium), former Belgian PM
For: Nicolas Sarkozy We have met the enemy, and he is us — Pogo
